Ray Manzarek, Doors Co-Founder, Dead at 74

Ray Manzarek, who founded The Doors with Jim Morrison in Venice in 1965 after their time at UCLA, died today at the age of 74, the band's official Facebook page announced.

The keyboard player, who gave the quintessential L.A. rock band part of its signature sound, died at RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany "after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer," the band's page states:

Even as Doors frontman Jim Morrison struggled with drugs and ultimately succumbed to an early death in Paris in 1971, Manzarak stood as the band's straight man and subsequent leader.

The Facebook page says The Doors ultimately sold 100 million records and downloads worldwide.

Guitarist Robby Krieger:

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today. I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him.